Crochet Bunting

So... our christmas colours are a somewhat unconventional teal, purple and hot pink. with some white/silver in there for good measure. I find that the traditional colours look lovely and festive on cold dark winters nights, but seem quite dull in Perths bright (if unusually stormy) summer days.

If you've been reading for a while, you may remember the wreath I made for the door (which is now on the mirror after I spent my days pinking up felt circles from the drive, and has been replaced by our old purple tinsel and bauble homemade wreath on the front door) and the cushions (which have a matching table cloth and coordinating table runner).

This year I added a couple of extra bits to drape over our picture shelves.

 The top one is simply felt circles sewn together in a chain.

The lower one is a range of stars I crocheted... loosely following a pattern the first time to understand the process involved in making the tip of the star and then freestyling :D

Hence they are all different- some look more like starfish, with wavy arms, some have 6 points (must have missed/added stitches somewhere!)

Then just threaded onto some white sparkly yarn thats too thick and fluffy for me to be able to crochet with yet!

2012 Christmas Party Dress 2

Well, I did it!

Christmas party cocktail dress:

I left it til the last minute, so the insides aren't as nicely finished as I might have liked, but I did like the end result. Sadly it was an outdoor party and the weather has been pretty cool and there was a strong breeze, so I wore my jacket over it for most of the night

So, its the bodice for Style 1157, with a pleated skirt instead of flared. I pleated the midriff section (I ironed it into pleats onto fusible interfacing and then cut out the piece. Worked really well, and added some extra form to the midriff, which had a habit of sagging.

I also added ruffles around the neck and pleats on the arms. I liked the way the different textures worked with the fabric, which was a kind of shot taffeta, with hot pink warp and black weft, ending up this lovely festive dark pink. It was lovely to sew with, but creased up really easily!

I sewed the bodice halves to the skirt front and back panels, then sewed the side seams. Most of my dresses have side zips, but I think I'm converted- this made any last minute fitting adjustments a breeze!

I think the only thing I would change is to make the "straps" slightly narrower at the back, and lower the back further ( and maybe see if that centre seam is really wonky or if its just how I'm stood?!)

The invisible zipper worked pretty well for my second attempt at one, though I need to get they stitching closer to the teeth without going through the teeth! (which may or may not have happened with this one)

Total cost:

Pattern: $5 (third time used but fanciest dress)

Fabric: $25 (on sale but still fairly expensive)

Zip: $2.50

$32.50? I'll take that. 

Christmas Pudding Treats - 2012

We went to a christmassy gathering yesterday afternoon.
I took one of my stockings filled with small mainly chocolate based treats, plus some extras for their dog. (liver treat reindeer poo, anyone?)
Plus I made some more of my favourite easy christmas treats - recipe here - that look pretty cool but are sooo quick to throw together.

This time they have gummy lollies chopped up on top, and some of them had a splash of amaretto mixed in with the orange juice. 10 minutes work, but they look pretty fancy!

Also- last night was The Boys work christmas party. My 1 real time to dress up for the year :D

And *shock horror* I actually made my dress! Following up on a plan? me?!

Heres a teaser :)

All I want for christmas is...

On offer at Lincraft.- half price! I kind of know that Santa will be bringing me one of these because its already sat in my garage waiting to be wrapped. 

Welcome to the world of grown-up christmas: Buy the present from your husband, wrap it yourself and put it under the tree :D

I also asked Santa for a binding foot. Just to add to the collection.

I love the IceAge movies, but we rarely actually go to the cinema.

Iceage 4 was on my birthday list, but it hadn't actually been released then, s

o now hopefully Santa will bring it.

I loved this fabric from the first time I set eyes on it back in October. But I can't find any of it here in Australia. I was thinking it would be a great fabric to make some stockings for the girls.

Kind of like these I spied when I was searching for a picture, made by Quirkie Craft

Maybe I'll order some ready for next year... because they are just too cool!

Whats on your list?

Christmas Stocking stuffers

I made stockings :) Getting presents in stockings seems much nicer than just unwrapping cheapo paper and throwing it away. These were so quick to sew too. There are tutorials all over the web, so I won't go into detail.
I just cut out a rough fat sock shape with pinking shears, sewed them together with a small seam allowance, and sewed a white band to the top which hid most of the seams. For an extra touch I'm writing each persons name on the top. If I wanted these to be heirlooms for kids to use year after year I would finish the seams nicely, but these are task appropriate!
 

It took about an hour to make 9 of these start to finish, and they're made from some fabric I bought a few years ago that has just sat in my stash because it doesn't fit with our colour scheme anymore. (free? no recent expenditure any way!)

With the scraps I made some christmas-y flowers to add to some of the stockings as little extra presents. The flowers are very quick and easy. There are tutes all over the web for these as well, but basically they are circles folded into quarters (top flower) or half (bottom flower) then gathered along the cut edge to form each petal, finished with some stitches to hold it together, add a button on the front and an attachment method on the back (these are hair bands, but I have similar ones as head bands, broaches and rings)

How cute is the gingerbread lady button :)

Nixon

Our foster-doggy is settling in well!

Ombre Blues

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